(Combined effort of PATHFINDER GROUP Task Force)
Bombs Blasts/IEDs
At least 39 people were injured in a cracker bomb attack on a rally of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town of Karachi on August 5, reports Samaa TV. The Kashmir rally was on its way near the Baitul Mukarram mosque when an unidentified person threw a cracker bomb from the opposite side of the road. Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, who was leading the rally, urged party workers to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. In a statement, the JI Karachi leader said the attack was carried out by “coward agents of Indian [intelligence agency] R&AW”. The Sindhudesh revolutionary army (SRA) has claimed responsibility for the attack through its social media account.
At least six persons were killed and 21 others injured in a bomb blast targeting an anti-narcotics force (ANF) vehicle on Mall road of chaman town in Qilla abdullah District on august 10, reports Daily Times. according to Police Inspector Muhammad Mohsin, unidentified persons had planted an Improvised explosive Device (IED) in a motorbike that was parked on the roadside. chaman town assistant commissioner of Police (ACP) Zakaullah Durrani said the explosion targeted the ANF vehicle.
At least seven persons were injured after unidentified persons hurled a cracker bomb at a stall in Gulshan e Hadeed area of Karachi on august 11, reports Samaa TV. The cracker attack was carried out at a stall selling national flags and badges in the area, according to the Police. no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
A seven-year-old boy was killed and six other people were injured in a hand grenade attack into a shop at the Brewery road area in Quetta on august 13, reports Dawn. The deceased, identified as Mohammad Muddassar, along with others were purchasing the national flag, badges and other items in connection with Independence Day. Police said two unidentified persons on a motorcycle hurled the grenade which exploded in front of the shop injuring seven people, including the shop owner. later, Mohammad Muddassar succumbed to his injuries at hospital.
Meanwhile, a passer-by, identified as Mohammad Hayat, was killed in Police firing after a bomb blast took place near a Police Station in Turbat town of Kech District of Balochistan on august 13, reports Samaa TV.
Separately, three people, were injured after unidentified motorcyclists threw a hand grenade inside a shop in a market in Mastung town (Mastung District) on august 13, reports Samaa TV.
further, another bomb blast took place targeting Security forces (SFS) in nushki District on august 13, reports Samaa TV. However, no casualties were reported.
Targetted Killings
Police SI shot dead in Karachi
A Police Sub-Inspector (SI) was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Super Highway in Karachi on July 30, reports Pakistan Today. The decease SI, identified as Yar Muhammad, was deputed in Gulshan-e-Maymar Police Station. according to Police, Yar Muhammad was killed by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle when he was driving back to his home near northern Bypass.
Miscellaneous
Five counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel were killed and five others injured during an exchange of fire with terror suspects in rohnai Muhallah of chilas town in Diamer District of GilgitBaltistan in the morning of July 28, reports Samaa TV. Two civilians, identified as Izharullah and Basharatullah, also sustained injuries. according to the Police, the CTD raided a house in rohnai Muhallah to arrest suspects accused of illegal trading of weapons. The weapons were allegedly used for terror activities. During the raid, the suspects opened fire on the personnel and managed to escape.
At least four labourers were critically wounded in a landmine explosion in PirKoh tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan on July 26, reports The Express Tribune. according to levies sources, the incident occurred in Pir Koh, where laborers were loading sand from Patarnala when their tractor trolley was hit by a land-mine planted by unidentified terrorists.
A solider,identified as, lance naik Samiullah, was killed when militant opened fire at an army border check-post along Pak-afghan border in Bajaur District on July 29, reports The News. According to the Inter Services Public relations (ISPR), army responded to the militants resulting in losses for the opposite side as well.
An under-trial prisoner accused of blasphemy was shot dead inside a court in Provincial Judicial complex of Peshawar on July 29, reports The Express Tribune. Tahir ahmad nasim (47), had been escorted into court by Police when a man opened fire with a pistol. The victim died on the spot while his attacker, Khalid, a resident of Peshawar Board area, was arrested. according to cantonment Superintendent of Police (SP) Hassan Jahangir, the incident took place in the court of additional Sessions Judge Shaukatullah and the attacker was arrested from the site of the incident. A lawyer, who was present in the courtroom when the incident happened, said that during the hearing of the case, the complainant said that the accused was an ahmadi and asked him to recite the Kalima-e-Tayyaba, adding that the complainant then fired at the elderly man and killed him.
The counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Sindh Police on July 30, arrested two Muttahida Qaumi Movement-london (MQM-L) target killers, identified as faisal ali Khan and nizamuddin, from Pak colony area of Korangi town in Karachi, reports The Nation.
In consideration of recent terrorist activities and imminent threat, Pakistan rangers (Sindh) and Sindh Police conducted search operations in three prisons of the province, Daily Times reported on July 31. According to the reports, different wings of the paramilitary force participated in search operations in central Jail Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. The law enforcement agencies personnel thoroughly searched the barracks and cells in prisons along with the bomb disposal squad and sniffing dogs. rangers and police also checked entry and exit points and other security arrangements in jails.
At least 28 people were injured when terrorists lobbed a hand grenade on Jamaat-e-Islami’s ‘Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir’ rally in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal on aug 5. The rally was organized by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the country’s main-stream religio-political party, in connection with the first anniversary of India’s revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. according to police, unidentified motorcyclists hurled the grenade towards the participants of the rally near the Baitul Mukarram Masjid on the main university road. following the explosion, panic and fear gripped the participants of the rally who started running here and there. A heavy contingent of the law enforcers including police and rangers reached the blast site and cordoned off the locality.
A frontier corps (FC) soldier was killed and two others injured, after heavy mortar and weapons firing, from across the border with afghanistan, in the Bin Shahi area of lower Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on august 5, reports Geo TV.
The counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel shot dead two militants during an encounter in Karachi on august 19, reports Geo TV. CTD In-charge Mazhar Mashwani said that a raid was carried out after information was received about the presence of the alleged militants in the area. The militants were killed when they trad- ed fire with CTD officials. He disclosed that the two militants who were killed during the exchange of fire, have been identified as rafiq and adnan. adnan allegedly belonged to the Bilal Mansoora group. The same group according to the CTD had fought with the rangers for several hours in urdu Bazaar a few years ago.
The counter Terrorism Department (CTD) prevented a suicide attack on the office of a law enforcement agency in lahore by arresting a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant in the morning of august 17,reports Samaa TV. according to the CTD’s spokesperson, “the CTD got information from a credible source about a terrorist planning a suicide bomb attack. He was waiting for another terrorist near the lahore railway Station.” CTD personnel raided the place and arrested the suspect identified as liaqat Khan. “a suicide jacket, two hand grenades, a 30-bore pistol and six bullets were recovered from his possession,” the spokesperson revealed. He added that Khan was a cadre of TTP.
PAKISTAN
Government prepares eight bills to move into FATF’s white list
Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi on July 25, said that the Government has prepared eight bills for legislation on anti-money laundering and terror financing with a view for Pakistan to move into the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATAF) ‘white list’ again, reports Daily Times. “India has been attempting to have Pakistan pushed into the black list. If this were to occur, you know better than I, the effects it will have on the economy,” the foreign Minister stated. “The government has taken timely administrative and legislative steps to step out of the grey list and once again have Pakistan placed on the white list,” he stated. He further said there are eight laws for which consultation talks were held with the law ministry, finance ministry, financial Monitoring unit (FMU) and experts dealing with money laundering and counter-terrorism issues.
Government gets two FATF-related bills passed by National Assembly
The Government on July 29, managed to get two financial action Task force (FATF)-related bills passed by the National Assembly (NA) amidst a noisy protest by the opposition, reports Dawn. The anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the united nations (Security Council) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 were both moved by adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary affairs, Babar Awan. The bills were passed amid sloganeering from the opposition benches, mainly in protest against the foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s speech in the assembly on July 28, in which he had explained the deadlock between the government and the opposition over a number of legislations.
Meanwhile, financial Monitoring unit, Director, General Lubna Farooq told the National Assembly Standing committee on finance on July 28, that Pakistan is still fully compliant on 14 out of the 27-point action Plan of the financial action Task force (FATF) and it will have to submit an implementation report on the remaining points by august 6, The Express Tribune. The deadline to complete the legislative work is august 15 and to submit a compliance report is august 6, the DG said. The meeting of the Standing committee on finance had been convened to approve three bills, which the committee referred to a purpose-oriented Parliamentary committee on legislative Business, headed by foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. These were the anti-money laundering; companies act amendment and limited liability partnership amendment bills.
Five BRA militants killed in Punjab
At least five suspected militants of the Balochistan republican army (BRA) were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) jointly conducted by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) near arbi Tibba road in rojhan area of rajanpur District in Punjab, reports Pakistan Today. The CTD Spokesperson said security officials raided the hideout and asked the terrorists to surrender. However, instead of surrendering, they started firing at the security personnel indiscriminately. The raiding party took precautionary measures and a shootout ensued. When the firing stopped, five terrorists were found dead by the firing of their own accomplices, Spokesperson added. The killed militants were identified as Ghulam Hussain, Master Ali, Ramzan, Dost Muhammad and Atta Muhammad. Three suspects managed to escape on motorcycles under the cover of darkness. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED), 4kg explosive material, 50ft of prima cord (detonating cord) and four detonators that were found at the site along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, that included three sub-machine guns and two .30 caliber pistols. The CTD Spokesperson said that the suspected militants had planned to attack government installations and law enforcement agencies (leas).
Supreme Court orders a copy of APS carnage inquiry report to be provided to Attorney General
The Supreme Court August 4, ordered that a copy of the judicial inquiry report on the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar carnage be provided to the Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan and also directed him to ask the Government for instructions regarding the next step, reports Dawn. A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the proceedings on the Suo motu case. During the hearing, the Chief Justice remarked, “we will not leave those who are responsible for the APS tragedy” and expressed sympathy with the parents.
Missing Persons Commission disposes of 4,616 cases up till July 30, 2020
Missing Persons commission has disposed of 4,616 cases up till July 30, 2020, as per monthly progress report released by Farid Ahmed Khan, the Secretary of commission of Inquiry of Enforced Disappearances (COIOED), on cases of alleged enforced disappearances for the month of July 2020, Pakistan Today reported on august 4. A total number of 6,686 cases were received by the commission up until June 2020. During July 2020, 43 more cases were received by the commission and the total numbers of cases reached 6,729. The commission disposed 23 cases in July 2020 and thus total resolved cases as of July 30, 2020 is 4,616, with a balance of 2,113 cases. The Commission will resume its hearings soon after review of lockdown policies announced by the Federal Government and Provincial Governments.
Lower House passes Anti-Terrorism (Amend) Bill, 2020 with majority
The national assembly on august 12 passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020 moved by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem with majority, days after the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance approved it, reports Daily Times. The bill was one of the five moved by Law Minister Farogh -Naseem along with Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, The companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The control of narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and Islamabad capital Territory Trust Bill, 2020. all the bills were passed by the lower House. Speaking on the floor of the House, Naseem had said it was a historic day that the FATF- related legislation was being carried out with consensus in the larger interest of the country. He said, “Whitening the economy and checking terror financing is important to take the country forward on the path of development. It is also our aim to simplify the legislation and ensure protection of fundamental rights of the people.”
Earlier while addressing the floor of the House, foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said terror financing and money laundering was a menace that the country needed to confront and eradicate. “long deliberations were held with the opposition parties to reach consensus on the FATF related legislation,” he said referring to opposition parties” complaints about the Bill being approved National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance on Monday. Qureshi said that the suggestions put forward by the opposition had been incorporated in the Bill as part of the amendments.
Major Indian cyber attack failed
Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have identified a major cyber attack by Indian intelligence agencies involving a range of cyber crimes including deceitful fabrication by hacking personal mobiles and technical gadgets of government officials and military personnel, the ISPR said on Wednesday, Aug 12.
Various targets of hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated. The Pakistan Army has further enhanced necessary measures to thwart such activities including action against violators of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on cyber security. advisory is also being sent to all government departments/institutions for identifying lapses and enhance respective cyber security measures.
Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue approves FATF-related amendments
The Senate (Upper House of National Assembly) Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on august 18 approved the Financial Action Task force (FATF)-related two bills the limited liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the companies (amendment) Bill, 2020, with three alterations during its meeting under the chairmanship of Senator Farooq H Naik, reports Pakistan Today. It was agreed that committee members, Senator Musadiq Malik, Senator Imam-ud-Din and Senator Sherry Rehman will present their proposed amendments in Senate on august 19 when the bill will be tabled in the upper house. The proposed amendments will be related to information of Ultimate Beneficial Ownership. Committee Chairman Farooq Naik said that the FATF related amendments are the need of the hour and in favour of country but the Government should maintain the standards of justice in the proposed laws.
Government bans offshoot of proscribed sectarian group
Pakistan Government on August 19, proscribed a group identified as Khatam-ul-Ambia for being an off shoot of a banned organisation Ansar-ul-Hussain involved in terrorism under the anti-Terrorism act, 1997, reports Samaa TV. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) added Khatam-ul-Ambia’s name to its list of proscribed organisations after the federal Ministry of Interior issued the notification. The notification, however, didn’t reveal the name of the banned group that Khatam-ul- ambia is an offshoot of. an official of the federal Ministry of Interior, requesting anonymity, told Samaa TV that Khatam-ul-Ambia is an off shoot of banned Ansar-ul-Hussain. The organisation is based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), added the official. Banned in December 2016, Ansar-ul-Hussain is a sectarian group believed to be recruiting Shia men in Kurram District and other areas in KP for fighting against IS (Islamic State) in Syria.
Government placed sanctions on more than 88 individuals associated with terrorist groups
The Pakistan Government on August 21, placed sanction on more than 88 individuals suspected to be associated with different terrorist groups, including Daish, al Qaida and Taliban, reports ARY News. according to the details, the Government has also seized the bank accounts and properties of the individuals in the country. They have also been banned from travelling aboard. It is pertinent to mention here that the 88 individuals were included in the terrorists’ list issued by the united nations (UN) few days back. In a statement, the foreign office had said “The sanctions are being implemented by Pakistan in compliance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and we hope that other countries will also follow suit.”
Pakistan Army shoots down Indian quadcopter
The Pakistan Army troops shot down an Indian spying quadcopter in Pandu Sector along the line of control (LoC) on Sunday, July 26.
The quadcopter had intruded 200 meters on Pakistan’s side of the LoC, Director General Inter-Services Public relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said in a statement.
This is 10th Indian quadcopter shot down by Pakistan army this year.
Afghanistan – Internal Dynamics
1,282 civilians killed in past six months, according to UNAMA report
According to a new report released by United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on July 27, in the first half of 2020,3,458 civilian casualties (1,282 killed and 2,176 injured)in Afghanistan, reports Tolo News. The report said that Afghanistan remains one of the deadliest conflicts in the world for civilians despite civilian casualty figures being 13 per cent less than first six months of 2019. “It must be noted that there has been no reduction in civilian casualties caused by the Taliban and afghan national security forces,” the report said, and attributed the lower number of civilian casualties in the first half of 2019 to a reduction in operations by international military forces and Daesh.
Four Afghan SF personnel killed in mine blast in Herat Province
Four Afghan Security force (SF) personnel were killed in a roadside mine blast in Kashak Sirowan region of Pashton Zarghon District in Herat Province on July 27, reports bhaktarnews.com.
10,708 members of ANDSF have been killed or injured between February 29- July 21, says President Ashraf Ghani
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on July 28, said that between February 29 and July 21 up 10,708 members of the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) have been killed and wounded, reports Tolo News. “Between February 29, 2020, and July 21, 2020, ANDSF losses have been 10,708, with 3560 martyred, 6781 wounded and the rest kidnapped, imprisoned or unaccounted for,” said Ghani. He said that the afghan civilian losses during this period have been 3073, with 775 killed, 1609 wounded and 689 abducted.
16 persons including 13 civilians and three terrorists killed in Nangarhar Province
16 persons including 13 civilians and three terrorists were killed in an ongoing attack that started on August 2, in Jalalabad Prison in PD4 of Jalalabad city in nangarhar Province, reports Tolo News. The attack began when a suicide bomber detonated a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at the entrance gate of the prison followed by firing by other militants. Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) has claimed the attack adds France 24. Governor’s Spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told Tolo News that the clash is still ongoing close to the prison in PD4 in Jalalabad city and has continued for so long because attackers “use shopping malls as cover.” 42 others were injured in the attack. an afghan commando in Jalalabad said that the number of attackers may be “over twenty.” A source confirmed that 700 inmates who fled the prison have been re-captured. A total of 1,500 inmates were in the prison originally, the source said. Reuters adds that more than 75 prisoners escaped, forcing Police to divert manpower to try to recapture them.
39 persons including 10 terrorists killed at the end of 20 hour long Jalalabad prison siege in Nangarhar Province
39 persons, including 10 terrorists were killed at the end of 20 hour long Jalalabad prison siege that began on august 2, with the explosion of a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) at the gate of the prison, in PD4 of Jalalabad city of Nangarhar Province, reports Tolo News. Nangarhar Police Chief, Emal Niazi, said that both the prison and the shopping plaza close to the prison were cleared of attackers and the area is under Security Forces control. Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, 40 families in a nearby building were rescued, 1,025 prisoners were also rescued, the Defence Ministry said. among the dead were prisoners as well as civilians, prison guards and Afghan security personnel, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of nangarhar province, told Al Jazeera. according to the BBC, there were 1,793 prisoners in the jail at the time of the attack. Most of them Taliban and IS fighters, a Security source told the AFP News Agency. Taliban had denied its involvement in the incident. However, Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi, said they had “solid intelligence” that the attack was designed by a local Taliban ‘commander’ in the Province adds New York Times. “Shahab Almahajir, the newly appointed leader of Islamic State of Khorasan Province, or IS-KP, is a Haqqani member,” Mr. Andrabi said. A senior Afghan official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that only a third of the prison’s population of about 1,800 included IS loyalists. The rest were split among Taliban prisoners and criminals. all of them got a chance to break free, at least for a while.
10 Taliban militants Killed In Separate Incidents in Ghazni Province
The Afghan Security Forces (SFs) killed 10 Taliban militants in two separate incidents in Ghazni- Kandahar Highway in Gilan District and Arzoo area located in the out-skirts of Ghazni city in Ghazni Province, reports Khamma News Agency on august 6. according to Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) statement, six Taliban militants were killed by the Afghan SFs on Ghazni- Kandahar Highway in Gilan District and four militants were killed in Arzoo area located in the outskirts of Ghazni city.
Seven Police personnel killed in a Car Bomb explosion in Ghazni Province
At least seven Police personnel were killed and 15 others were injured in a car bomb explosion in Ghazni District of Ghazni Province on august 8, reports Tolo News. The explosion was followed by an attempt to storm the compound in Kotal-e-Rawza area in the city of Ghazni, but all attackers were killed before entering, said the Interior Ministry spokesperson Tariq Arian adding that no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Four ANA soldiers killed in Badakhshan Province
Four Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and two others injured in a landmine blast in Kotal Rizgan area in Argo District in Badakhshan Province on August 14, reports Bakhtar News. The incident took place when a convoy carrying the soldiers was targeted by a landmine by suspected Taliban militants, and the military vehicle was destroyed in the blast.
Taliban in a statement declared that it doesn’t recognise Afghan Government
On August 15, Taliban, in a statement, said that the group does notrecognise the Afghan government as a legitimate system, reports Tolo News. “The Islamic emirate does not recognize the Kabul administration as a government but views it as western imported structure working for the continuation of american occupation,” the Taliban’s statement reads, in versions of English, Dari and Pashto.
France asks Afghanistan not to free those Taliban militants who had killed French citizens
France has asked the afghan Government on august 15, not to release Taliban fighters who are convicted of killing french citizens, reports 1tvnews.af. “France is particularly concerned by the presence, among the individuals liable to be released, of several terrorists convicted of killing french citizens in afghanistan,” the foreign Ministry said in a statement. “It firmly opposes the liberation of individuals convicted of crimes against french nationals, in particular soldiers and humanitarian workers,” it said. The afghan Government has agreed to release 400 “hard-core” prisoners as part of moves towards peace talks with the Taliban.
20 persons, including 10 Taliban militants and 10 Policemen, killed in Sar-e-Pul Province
Over 10 Taliban militants, including their three local commanders, and 10 afghan national Policemen were killed during clashes in Security forces’ checkpoints in Sozma Qala District in Sar-e-Pul Province on august 21, reports bhaktarnews.com.
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Bomb recovered from Policeman’s motorbike in Dhaka city
A crude bomb was recovered from the motorbike of a Policeman in Gulistan area of Dhaka city in Dhaka District of Dhaka Division on July 25, reports Dhaka Tribune. a detonator was also found. later, the crude bomb was destroyed by the bomb disposal unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Five Ansar al Islam cadres arrested in Dhaka District
Rapid action Battalion (RAB) arrested five cadres of banned militant group ansaral Islam from Dhuliabhita area in Dhaka District of Dhaka Division on July 27, reports The Daily Star. The Arrestees are: Mizanur Rahman Palash (35), Nurul Huda (44), Abdur rashid (21), Rasel (37), and Abdul Hai (40). During the drive, RAB recovered several books and leaflets on extremist ideology and mobile phone sets from their possession.
Five persons including four Policemen and a support staff injured in bomb explosion in Dhaka city
Amid an existing security alert, a bomb fitted inside a weighing machine, which Police seized, exploded inside Pallabi Police Station in Dhaka city of Dhaka District in Dhaka Division on July 29, injuring four Policemen and a support staff, reports The Daily Star. US-based terrorism analyst SITE Intelligence Group in a tweet on July 29, said Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the blast. SITE co-founder Rita Katz tweeted, “#ISIS claims attack in #Bangladesh Marks the group’s 1st attack in the city since Aug. 2019 & comes amid an attack surge as part of the 4th wave of its ‘Battle of attrition’ campaign, in lead up to #eidaladha.” However, Police ruled out the involvement of any militant outfit. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) additional commissioner (crime) Krishna Pada roy said Pallabi Police raided Kalshi area around 2:00am and arrested the suspects after learning about a possible ‘criminal act’ by a gang. He said the arrestees Shahidul Islam (23), Mosharraf Hossain (26) and rafiqul Islam (40), are members of a gang called Shahadat Bahini. additional Deputy commissioner rahmatullah chowdhury, in-charge of the counter Terrorism and Transnational crime (CTTC)’s bomb disposal squad, said “Militant groups do not use this type of explosive. We usually see criminal groups using these explosives.”
Ansar al Islam cadre arrested in Narayanganj District
Anti-Terrorism unit (ATU) on July 27, arrested a cadre of banned militant group, ansar al Islam from Sultanbag area in Narayanganj District of the Dhaka Division reports The Daily Star. The Arrestee is Sabuj Sheikh (26). He used to operate a Facebook ID called “Sotter Shondhane” to propagate extremism.
Ansar-al-Islam cadre arrested in Jhenaidah District
The anti-Terrorism unit (ATU) arrested a cadre of banned militant outfit ansar-al-Islam from Mongonpoita Bazer in Jhenaidah District of the Khulna Division on august 5, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrestee is Mohamad Sajib Hossain (26). He was wanted in an ATU case filed with Tongi West Police Station on June 5.
Crude bomb exploded in Dhaka city
A crude bomb exploded in Mirpur area of Dhaka city in Dhaka District of Dhaka Division on august 9, reports Dhaka Tribune. Mirpur Police Station officer-in-charge (OC), Mostafizur rahman confirmed the matter. “Someone hurled a crude bomb on the road in front of two residential buildings in Block f of Mirpur Section-2 around 8pm. We couldn’t arrest the culprit. The reason behind this explosion is still unknown,” he said. an investigation has been launched and security camera footage of the area is being collected to identify the perpetrators, said rahman.
Amnesty International urges Bangladesh Government to stop attacks on those peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression
Amnesty International in a press release on august 11, urged the Bangladesh Government to immediately stop all attacks on those peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and urgently investigate a series of recent attacks, reports The Daily Star. “enforced disappearances have been increasingly on the rise in Bangladesh since the current regime assumed power in 2009,” amnesty International stated. referring to Paris-based International federation for Human rights, the release said between 2009 and 2018, at least 507 people were subjected to enforced disappearances. of them, 62 people were found dead, 286 returned alive, and the fate and whereabouts of 159 are still unknown.
HuJI-B failed to reorganise its activities due to its members leaving for other groups, say CTTC officials
Officials from the counter Terrorism and Transnational crime (CTTC) unit of Police said Harkat- ul- Jihad-al Islami-Bangladesh (HuJI-B), once a notorious militant outfit responsible for killing more than 100 people and injuring 600 others through various terror attacks in Bangladesh, failed repeatedly to reorganise its activities due to its members leaving for other groups and Police vigilance, reports Dhaka Tribune on august 20. The officials said the present organisational structure of HuJIB is at its lowest point, and also claimed that HuJI-B hardly has any capacity to carry out any major subversive activities in the country.
India – Internal Dynamics
SFs recover IED weighing 40 kilograms planted by Maoists in Chhattisgarh
An Improvised explosive Device (IED) weighing 40 kilograms, planted by communist Party of India-Maoist cadres, was recovered by a joint team of Security forces (SFs) on the Basaguda- Tarrem road between Sarkeguda and Pegdapalli villages in Bijapur District of chhattisgarh on July 26, reports The Pioneer. The Superintendent of Police (SP), Kamlochan Kashyap said, the explosive, packed in a big plastic container, was recovered by personnel belonging to 168th Battalion of central reserve Police force (CRPF), 204th Battalion of COBRA (commando Battalion for resolute action an elite unit of CRPF) and the District Voluntary force (DVF).
Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in the State, particularly in the seven Districts of Bastar division – Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, narayanpur, Kondagaon, Sukma, and Kankerinview of the ‘martyrs’ week’ to be observed by the Maoists from July 28 to august 3.
IS’s Voice of Hind encouraged violence during lockdown, says report
Two editions of the ‘Voice of Hind’ magazine, an English-language magazine distributed online by Islamic State (IS), which were issued during the lockdown in India, encouraged violence to “kill Kuffars”, India Today reports on July 26. The Magazine shows the terror group’s appeal to Muslims to spread the virus among non-believers by becoming COVID carriers themselves. The magazine was issued through Telegram channels amid lockdown to brainwash Muslims. Their magazine also appreciated Maulana Saad, the Tablighi Jamaat chief accused in the Nizamuddin Markaz case for being a super-spreader.
BSF recovers 1.5 kilograms heroin worth INR 75 million in Punjab
Troopers of 116 Battalion of the Border Security force (BSF) recovered around 1.5 kilograms of heroin, worth INR 75 million in the International market, from the Ferozepur sector along International Border (IB) in ferozepur District of Punjab on July 27, reports The Tribune. a BSF official said, the smugglers were trying to push the consignment across the Indian territory, but their attempt was thwarted by the BSF troops.
Meanwhile, members of the Shiromani akali Dal (SaD), amritsar along with other Sikh organisations, on July 27, staged a protest march against the national Investigation agency (NIA) for interfering in the State over the ‘referendum 2020’ campaign of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), reports The Tribune. They were protesting against the incident of suicide committed by a youth at AMB Sahib Gurdwara in Sangrur District on July 13, after he was summoned by the NIA.
Maoists kill a CAF trooper in Chhattisgarh
The communist Party of India- Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres opened fire at a chhattisgarh armed force (CAF) camp and killed a CAF trooper, identified as constable Jitendra Bakde, in Kademeta village under chhote Dongar Police Station limits in narayanpur District of chhattisgarh on July 27, reports The Pioneer. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sundarraj Patilingam said, “a couple of Maoists fired two rounds at the security personnel guarding the camp and escaped into the dense forest. Prima facie, it appears that a small action team of Maoists was involved in the incident. a search operation is launched to trace them.”
SFJ using recorded calls to instigate Sikh soldiers to desert Indian Army, says report
The US-based banned pro- Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has been using prerecorded audio calls to instigate soldiers of the Sikh community in the Indian army, asking them to desert the force, reports IANS on July 27. as per the report, the prerecorded calls are “motivating Indian Sikh soldiers not to get martyred for India”, and inciting them by saying that India has a history of “not supporting Sikh people that is why they should leave Indian army.” further, as per the audio message, Sikh soldiers are being asked to join SFJ’s campaign ‘referendum 2020’ wherein on joining they will get INR 5,000 more than their present salary in the Indian army. The sources in the intelligence agencies have found that the calls are prerecorded with the forwarded number being+1 (617) 390-7018, likely to be belonging to Massachusetts, north America.
Three Assam Rifles personnel killed in militant ambush in Manipur
On July 29, three Assam Rifles personnel were killed and five others injured in militant ambush at Khongtal village of Chandel District of Manipur, reports Nagaland Post. a column of 4 Assam rifles were on area domination when the militants attacked them by initially detonating an Improvised explosive Device (IED) and subsequently firing at the column with sophisticated arms. The three personnel who were killed on the spot were identified as Havildar Pranay Kalita, rifleman ratan Salam and rifleman Methna Konyak. In a joint statement, a joint team of Manipur Naga People’s front (MNPF), revolutionary People’s front (RPF) and united liberation front of Asom Independent (ULFA-1) claimed responsibility for the attack. This attack was the second attack on 4 Assam rifles based in Khongtal village.
BSF Constable among three persons arrested for cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons in Punjab
Punjab Police arrested a constable of the Border Security force (BSF), identified as, Rajendra Prashad and two local smugglers, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, for cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons, reports Hindustan Times on august 2. according to Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta, acting on a tip-off, a Jalandhar rural Police team, on July 26, arrested Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, who were travelling in a car from Delhi. The Police had recovered 25 gm of heroin from them. on questioning, the duo led to the recovery of a.30 Bore Pistol (Made in china) with 5 live rounds and INR 2.45 million as well as 35 gm of heroin. During further questioning, the duo also revealed that they were working with a cross-border smuggler, Satnam Singh alias Satta, a resident of Taran Tarn District. They also disclosed that BSF Constable, Rajendra Prashad, posted at a border outpost at chhina village in Tarn Taran District was a part of the smuggling racket, following which he was arrested. The DGP said out of INR 2.45 million, INR 1.5 million was recovered from the residence of Satnam Singh, INR 50,000 from the BSF constable and INR 450,000 lakh from Gurjant Singh.
Two civilians killed in a landmine explosion in Andhra Pradesh
Two civilians, identified as Mondipalli ajay Kumar and Mondipalli Mohan rao, were killed in a landmine explosion near chintalaveedhi in Jamiguda Gram Panchayat (village level local self- Government institution) of Pedabayalu Mandal (administrative sub-division), located in the interior part of the andhra-odisha Border (AOB) region in Visakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh on august 3, reports The New Indian Express. according to the Police, the two tribal youth had gone into the forest in search of some cattle which were missing from the herd after grazing. and accidentally stepped on a mine planted under the soil on the thoroughfare which killed both.
| Monthly Fatalities The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period July 26, 2020 to Aug 25, 2020: | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Manipur | 03 | 04 | 00 | 07 |
| Left Wing | 04 | 02 | 00 | 06 |
| Total | 07 | 06 | 00 | 13 |
two tribal youth had gone into the forest in search of some cattle which were missing from the herd after grazing. and accidentally stepped on a mine planted under the soil on the thoroughfare which killed both.
DU professor has links with Manipur based insurgent group- KCP-MC and others, says NIA
The national Investigation agency (NIA) on august 2, claimed that Delhi university (Du) Professor, Hany Babu M.T.(arrested earlier on July 28) has links with Manipur based insurgent group, Kangkeipak communist Party- Military council (KCP_MC), reports Hindustan Times. The agency also said that it has retrieved several communications of the Du professor with other Manipur-based out- fits. Based on Hany Babu’s questioning, the NIA team also searched his residence in noida. a NIA statement said, “Hany Babu MT was found to be a co-conspirator along with other accused persons propagating naxal activities and Maoist ideology. The investigation also revealed that Hany Babu was in contact with Paikhomba Meitei, Secretary Information and Publicity, Military affairs of Kangkeipak communist Party (Mc), an organisation banned under unlawful activities (Prevention) act. an interview of Ganapathy, General Secretary of CPI-Maoist was shared by Paikhomba Meitei with the accused Hany Babu. communications of Hany Babu with other Maoists of Manipur have also been retrieved.”
Arms and ammunition recovered in Assam
A huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered on august 10, from Tulshibari area of Kokrajhar District in assam, reports Northeast Now. The recovery which included eight AK 56-rifles, three AK-56 magazines nine.36 He grenades, two detonators and 511 rounds of AK ammunition was hid- den beneath the ground.
Police personal killed by suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh
A Police personal, identified as assistant constable Suresh Komra (42), was hacked to death with an axe by two suspected cadres of communist Party of India-Maoist at Kutru village in Bijapur District of chhattisgarh on august 23, reports The Pioneer. according to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sundarraj Patilingam, the incident took place when Suresh had gone to a weekly market in the village to buy essentials. Two persons, dressed as civilians, repeatedly attacked him with an axe, leaving him dead on the spot. Komra was posted at the Kutru Police Station, the IGP said adding that “Prima facie, the modus operandi of the attack suggests that it was executed by a small action team of Maoists. However, investigation is being carried out from all possible angles, including that of personal enmity.”
Nepal – Internal Dynamics
Five CPN-Maoist-Chand cadres arrested in Chitwan District
Police arrested five cadres of Netra Bikram chandled communist Party of nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist-chand) from rasauli in chitwan District of Province no. 3, on July 27, reports The Himalayan Times. The arrestees were lal Bahadur Bc, Hum Bahadur Khadka, ram Lal BK, Bhim narayan Shrestha and Dhan Bahadur Shrestha.
International Commission of Jurists recommends that Nepal give full shape to inclusive commissions
The International commission of Jurists has recommended that nepal give full shape to all its inclusion commissions established by the constitution and provide adequate financial and human resources to allow them to function in an independent manner, reports Kathmandu Post on august 7. In its report “Human rights and the rule of law in a federal nepal”, the international non-governmental organisation of judges and lawyers around the world said appointments to the commission should be done with due urgency so that the commissions function as per the spirit of the statute. “The needed amendments are well-known, and if implemented, would create a consensus that would allow the transitional justice process to finally move forward the stated goal of the current government,” reads the report. It also has recommended the government initiate a new process for the appointment of commissioners to transitional justice bodies that is transparent and consultative.
Sri Lanka – Internal Dynamics
Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen appears before CID in Easter Sunday blast investigation
Former Minister rishad Bathiudeen visited the criminal Investigation Department (CID) office at Irattaperiyakulam in Vavuniya District of the northern Province on July 27, and gave a statement for five hours, in connection with investigations regarding the supply of raw materials to the copper factory owned by an easter Sunday suicide bomber, reports Daily Mirror. The former Minister’s statement was recorded by the CID officers at the Irattaperiyakulam from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Minister has visited this CID office in accordance with the magisterial order made by the fort Magistrate to record the statement from Bathiudeen without hampering his election activities.
Notices issued to 14 VIPs including former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
Notices were issued on July 27, to 14 VIPs including former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister ranil Wickremesinghe to present a legal representation to the Presidential commission of Inquiry (PCOI) probing the easter Sunday attacks, reports Daily Mirror. notices were issued to former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Prime Minister ranil Wickremesinghe, former State Minister of Defense ruwan Wijewardene, former law and order Ministers Sagala ratnayaka and ranjith Madduma Bandara, former Defense Secretaries Kapila Waidyaratne, Karunasena Hettiarchchi and Hemasiri fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former CNI Sisira Mendis, former head of TID, nalaka de Silva, brigadier chula Kodithuwakku, former SDIG – CID ravi Senevirathne and Director CID Shani abeysekara, and had been asked to send legal representatives. These VIPs are also to give evidence before the PCol in the future.
TNA is trying to achieve what LTTE failed to gain by firepower, says Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
Prime Minister Mahinda rajapaksa addressing an election meeting held at narammala community Development foundation in Kurunegala District on July 27, said the Tamil national alliance (TNA) is trying to achieve what the liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (lTTE) failed to gain by firepower, reports Daily News. He said that the Government will not give into TNA demands to divide this country on ethnic lines and there will be no room for a separate State in Sri lanka under his Government. “our government succeeded in eradicating the terrorism which plagued the country for more than 30 years and created environment in the country in which people of all communities can live in peace and harmony. We should take every possible effort to thwart another uprising in the country again,” he said.
Sri Lanka should end intimidation and threats against human rights defenders, say 10 international human rights organisations
10 international human rights organisations in a statement issued on July 29, said Sri lankan Government should end the targeted arrests, intimidation and threats against the lives and physical security of lawyers, activists, human rights defenders and journalists, reports Daily Mirror. The statement was signed by amnesty International, CIVICUS, World organisation against Torture, asian forum for Human rights and Development, front line Defenders, Human rights Watch, International commission of Jurists, International Service for Human rights, reporters Without Borders and South Asians for Human rights. They said a campaign of fear has intensified since the 2019 Presidential election, and has cast a shadow over the 2020 Parliamentary election campaign as well. “The targeting and repression of journalists and human rights defenders is not only an assault on the rights of these individuals, but an attack on the principles of human rights and the rule of law which should protect all Sri lankans,” the statement said.
Rajapaksa brothers tighter grip on SL
Sri lanka’s ruling rajapaksa brothers secured a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary election that will allow them to rewrite the constitution and increase their power, final results showed on friday, Aug 7. The united States, which had been highly critical of Prime Minister Mahinda rajapaksa’s previous administration, immediately called on the new government to respect human rights and the rule of law.
Cabinet and State Ministers of new Government sworn in
The cabinet of Ministers and State Ministers of the new Government led by Sri lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) were sworn in before President Gotabaya rajapaksa on august 12, reports Colombo Page. The swearing in ceremony was held at the Magul Maduwa (audience Hall) of the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth relic premises in Kandy. The new cabinet of Ministers comprised 25 Ministers including the Prime Minister. There are 39 State Ministers. 23 Members of Parliament have been appointed as District coordinating committee chairmen.
Concept of ‘One Country, one law’ could be a difficult task, says Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella
Chief opposition Whip lakshman Kiriella told Parliament on august 21, that the concept of ‘one country, one law’ which President Gotabaya rajapaksa pledged to adopt through the new constitution could be a difficult task, reports Daily Mirror. “There are certain laws which people practice in their personal capacity. The Kandyan law which is practiced in areas such as Kandy, outlines how property should pass from one generation to another. It will not be easy to do away with such laws. The situation is the same when it comes to the Thesawalamai law and Muslim law”, Kiriella said. He also questioned as to what would become of the independent commissions established under the 19th amendment to the constitution if the Government was to abolish this piece of legislation.
Meanwhile, national Peoples’ Power (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP), Vijitha Herath on august 21, urged the Government not to abolish the independent commissions introduced in the 19th amendment, reports Daily Mirror. He told Parliament that Independent commissions such as the elections commission played a key role in ensuring democracy and justice. “The elections commission was important to hold free and fair elections after the introduction of the 19th amendment. The progressive features of the 19th amendment should not be abolished,” he said. He said that the extreme power of the executive President was reduced and assigned to Parliament under the 19th amendment and said the NPP was against any moves to weaken the power of Parliament and assign all power to a single person.
INTERNATIONAL
Protestors call for Netanyahu to go
“We won’t leave until Bibi leaves.” Israel’s struggle to contain the coronavirus has stirred deep- seated resentment towards Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu and protests demanding his resignation are growing by the week. as the Shabbat rest-day was ending, thousands of demonstrators headed towards netanyahu’s occupied al-Quds residence, a main site for protests that have taken place in multiple cities.
Bomb kills eight in Syrian town
A bomb in a Syria border town controlled by Turkey and its Syrian proxies killed at least eight people, including six civilians, on Sunday, July 26 a Britain-based war monitor said.
The blast from an explosive rigged motorbike ripped through a vegetable market in the volatile town of Ras al-ain, wounding at least 19 people, the Syrian observatory for Human rights said. Such bombings are common in the town, which was held by Kurdish forces before Turkish troops and their Syria proxies seized it last October.
The Turkish Defence ministry blamed Sunday’s attack on the US- backed Kurdish People’s Protection units (YPG), which still controls much of northeastern Syria.
Despite the key role the YPG played in the US-led campaign to drive the Islamic State group out of northern and eastern Syria, Ankara has launched repeated incursions against the group, which it regards as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that has waged a deadly insurgency in southeastern Turkey since 1984.
Ex-Malaysian PM Najib sentenced to 12 years
Former Malaysian leader najib razak was sentenced Tuesday, July 28 to 12 years in jail on corruption charges linked to the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal that led to the downfall of his government two years ago.
The ex-prime minister was also fined almost $50 million after being convicted on all seven charges in the first of several trials related to the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad sovereign wealth fund. The 67-year-old is challenging the verdict and will be allowed to remain free on continued bail until a lengthy appeals process is complete.
Billions of dollars were stolen from Malaysia’s main state investment vehicle and spent on every thing from high-end real estate to pricey art. Investment bank Goldman Sachs also became embroiled in the scandal and faces a series of hefty fines in both the US and Malaysia as a result.
Anger at the looting played a large part in the shock loss of Najib’s long-ruling coalition at elections in 2018, and he was arrested and hit with dozens of charges following his defeat. The verdict was welcomed as a boost for Malaysia’s rule of law and came despite Najib’s political allies returning to power earlier this year as part of a coalition.
Judge Mohamad nazlan Mohamad Ghazali at Kuala lumpur’s High court found Najib guilty on seven charges regarding the transfer of 42 million ringgit ($9.9 million) from a former 1MDB unit to his bank accounts. The blue-blood politician, whose father and uncle were both former Malaysian prime ministers, had vehemently denied any wrongdoing and looked calm as the verdict was handed down.
The conviction could Destabilise the ruling coalition, which has a razor-thin majority in parliament, if Najib and his backers withdraw support potentially prompting a snap election. The amounts involved in Najib’s first case are small compared to those in his second and most significant trial, which Centres on allegations he illicitly obtained more than $500 million.
Malaysia had also charged Goldman Sachs, claiming large amounts were stolen when the bank arranged bond issues for 1MDB, but the two sides agreed to a $3.9 billion settlement last week.
Yemeni separatists abandon self-rule
Yemeni separatists abandoned their declaration of self-rule in the south on Wednesday, July 29 and pledged to implement a stalled Saudi-brokered peace deal, mending a rift between allies in the war against Huthi rebels.
The Southern Transitional council (STC) proclaimed self-governance in April after accusing the government of failing to perform its duties and of “conspiring” against the southern cause, pushing the war- ravaged country deeper into crisis.
The breakdown between the one-time allies had complicated a long and separate conflict between a Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-allied rebels, who control much of the north, including the capital Sanaa.
The STC “announces that it is abandoning its self-rule declaration” to allow the implementation of a power-sharing deal known as the riyadh agreement, spokesman nizar Haitham wrote on Twitter. He acknowledged the announcement came after Saudi Arabia and the united Arab emirates exerted pressure to row back on their decision. Saudi Arabia said it had proposed a plan to “accelerate” the implementation of the Riyadh agreement, the official Saudi Press agency (SPA) reported early on Wednesday. The plan calls for the Yemeni prime minister to form a new government within 30 days, as well as the appointment of a new governor and security director for second city Aden where the government had set up base. Yemen’s internationally recognised government welcomed the announcement, with spokesman Rajeh Badi expressing hope that this would be a “serious and true start” to implementing the Riyadh agreement.
Iran fires missile from underground in war games
Iran’s revolutionary Guards said they launched ballistic missiles from “the depths of the earth” on Wednesday, July 29 during the last day of military exercises near sensi- tive Gulf waters.
The launches came a day after the Guards struck a mock-up of a US aircraft carrier with volleys of missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for a fifth of world oil output. State television broadcast aerial footage of the latest daylight exercises in the desert showing bursts of flames, smoke and then dust before what appeared to be four projectiles climbing into the sky. The Islamic revolutionary Guard corps (IRGC) said in a statement on their Sepahnews website that it was “the first time in the world” that such an exercise had been carried out. The statement did not elaborate on the claim or provide any of the missiles’ specifications.
It hailed “the successful launch of ballistic missiles from the depths of the earth in a completely camouflaged way” as an “important achievement that could pose serious challenges to enemy intelligence organisations”.
The Guards said they also released bombs from Sukhoi Su-22 fighter-bombers to target predetermined positions on Bani farur Island in Iran’s territorial waters. “These launches were carried out without the platform and usual equipment,” IRGC aerospace chief Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said on state television.
Car bomb kills six in Syria
A car bomb in northeast Syria targeting a checkpoint manned by Turkish-backed forces killed six people, mostly fighters, near the border town of Ras al-Ain on Thursday, July 30 a war monitor said. The blast in the village of Tal Halaf held by Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies also wounded 15 others, the Britain-based Syrian observatory for Human rights said. Turkish forces and their Syrian proxies last year seized a 120-kilometre (75-mile) stretch of land inside the Syrian border from Kurdish forces, running from Ras al-Ain to Tal Abyad.
Pakistan may become regional hub for trade
Yao Jing
Ambassador of china to Pakistan Yao Jing on Monday, Aug 3 said Pakistan possessed a huge potential to become a regional hub for trade and vast connectivity, and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) offered such opportunities.
He also lauded the enthusiasm manifested by the Pakistani leadership and its people towards CPEC. Talking to Geo news Programme ‘Jirga’ in an interview, the Chinese ambassador strongly disapproved
the propaganda by certain quarters in the West about CPEC by maintaining that it offered prospects of better future for the people of the two countries and would prove beneficial for the whole region. He said that a lot of projects have been completed under CPEC, while expansion is being made on the development fronts. Terming such propaganda highly ‘unfortunate’, he said it was part of china-bashing by certain quarters having political purposes.
Yao Jing expressed his satisfaction that there was 100 percent consensus between China and Pakistan and the two friendly countries had already outright rejected such moves. He said that CPEC was a transparent project between the two governments, and they will effort for making it more viable. responding to a question, he said the development of Gwadar, Karachi Port and Port Qasim offered immense opportunities and bright prospects for the wider regional connectivity.
To another question, he expressed his pleasure that Pakistan was tirelessly making efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan, which would ultimately open trade opportunities Upto land- locked central Asian states, which were looking to expand the scope of their trade routes.
Interpol warns of ‘alarming’ cybercrime rate
Global police body Interpol warned on Monday, Aug 3 of an “alarming” rate of cybercrime during the coronavirus pandemic, with criminals taking advantage of people working from home to target major institutions.
an assessment by the lyon-based organisation found a “significant target shift” by criminals from individuals and small businesses to major corporations, governments and critical infrastructure.
“Cybercriminals are developing and boosting their attacks at an alarming pace, exploiting the fear and uncertainty caused by the unstable social and economic situation created by Covid-19,” said Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock.
“The increased online dependency for people around the world is also creating new opportunities, with many businesses and individuals not ensuring their Cyberde- fences are up to date,” he added.
US, Israel biggest nuclear threat to region: Iran
Iran’s foreign minister said Thursday, Aug 6 that the US and its ally Israel constitute a nuclear threat to the Middle east, on the 75th anniversary of the atomic attack on Hiroshima.
“Today, US & Israeli nukes threaten our region,” Mohammed Javad Zarif said on Twitter. The first atomic bomb deployed in warfare was dropped on the western city of Hiroshima on august 6, 1945 by the US B-29 bomber Enola Gay, killing about 140,000 people.
21 villagers killed in Nigeria
Gunmen killed 21 villagers in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, police said on Friday, Aug 8 in the latest deadly violence between ethnic Fulani herders and local farmers over grazing and water rights.
Seven dead in Somalia bomb blast
At least seven people were killed when a car bomb exploded at an army base in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, Aug 8 military and emergency services said.
The attack, claimed by the Al Shabaab militant group, targeted a compound near Somalia’s national stadium where soldiers from the Somali national army (SNA) are stationed.
Aamin ambulance, the country’s only free ambulance service, said in a statement that eight people died and 14 others were wounded in the blast. Witnesses said the vehicle passed by a checkpoint before a huge explosion erupted near the military camp.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. Somalia has suffered near-continuous conflict for almost 30 years, while the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu has been fighting al-Shabaab Islamic insurgents since 2008.
Six French tourists killed in Niger
Six French tourists, their local guide and driver were killed by unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles on Sunday, Aug 9 in an area of southwestern Niger home to the last herd of West African giraffes, officials said. “There are eight dead: two Nigerians including a guide and a driver, while the other six are French,” said Tillaberi region governor Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella.
China warns America
China warned Washington not to “play with fire” on Wednesday, Aug 12 as a US delegation wrapped up a historic trip to the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
Beijing has been infuriated by the highest-profile visit in decades to Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory, as US- china relations plunge to a record low over a range of issues from trade to military and the Coronavirus pandemic.
Health chief Alex Azar finished a three-day visit to Taiwan, during which he Criticised china’s handling of the pandemic and visited the shrine of a former Taiwan president hated by the communist Party leadership.
Beijing slammed the visit and said it “firmly opposes official exchanges between the US and Taiwan under any pretext”. “on issues involving china’s core interests, some people in the US must not harbour illusions, those who play with fire will get burned,” said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao lijian at a regular press briefing.
Beijing insists that Taiwan which has been self-ruled since 1949 is part of “one china” and has vowed to react with force if it ever formally declares independence. on the last day of the trip, Azar visited a shrine to Taiwan’s late president lee Tenghui on Wednesday, praising his role in steering the island’s transition to democracy.
The US cabinet member wrote a message of condolence for lee, who died last month aged 97. “President lee’s democratic legacy will forever propel the U.S.- Taiwan relationship forward,” Azar wrote.
lee was a towering figure in Taiwan’s recent history. He defied china by pushing for the island to be Recognised as a sovereign nation and earned the nickname “Mr Democracy” for the part he played in its transition from authoritarian rule.
‘Iran’s forces board ship in int’l waters’
Iranian forces boarded a tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, using a helicopter and two ships to take over the vessel for several hours, US officials said on Thursday, Aug 14.
They also posted grainy black and white footage of the helicopter hovering low over the vessel and special forces personnel fast-roping onto the deck. “Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian “Sea King” helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the ‘Wila’,” the US central command said in a tweet on Wednesday.
A US defence official said the Iranians released the vessel, a Liberian-flagged oil and chemicals tanker, after holding it for four to five hours. The incident occurred in international waters of the Gulf of Oman, just 32 kilometres (20 miles) off the coast of the united Arab Emirates.
“Iranian special forces fast roped from the Sea King on to the ship,” the official told AFP on Thursday. “a coalition ship monitored the event but did not receive a distress call from M/T Wila.”
Bloomberg said the vessel had been floating off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates for the past month but that it appeared to have picked up a shipment in July near the Iraqi oil terminal of Al-Basra. The waters where the ship was boarded, near the Strait of Hormuz, are a choke point for a third of the world’s seaborne oil. Iran and its arch enemy the United States have traded barbs in the past year over a spate of incidents in the sensitive waters of the Gulf.
Iran cries victory after US bid to extend arms embargo
Iran on Saturday, Aug 15 hailed a UN Security council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has “never been so isolated”.
President Hassan Rouhani said the US had failed to kill off what he called the “half alive” 2015 deal with major powers that gave Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.
“The United States failed in this conspiracy with humiliation,” said rouhani. “This day will go down in the history of our Iran and in the history of fighting global arrogance.”
Only two of the council’s 15 members voted in favour of the US resolution seeking to extend the embargo, highlighting the division between Washington and its european allies since President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord in 2018.
Washington’s European allies all abstained, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for winning the support of just one other country, the Dominican republic. “In the 75 years of united nations history, America has never been so isolated,” foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi tweeted.
Israel-UAE deal a killer: Palestinians
The agreement between Israel and the united Arab emirates to normalise ties would kill the two- state solution, strengthen “extremists” and undermine the “possibility of peace”, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Sunday, Aug 16.
The fractured Palestinian leadership from the Palestinian authority led by Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank to Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip was united in its opposition to the UAE-Israel deal announced on Thursday by US President Donald Trump.
“I really believe that this step is a killer to the two-state solution,” Erekat said. He argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have less incentive to compromise on a viable Palestinian state “if he believes that Arab countries will line up to make peace with him”.
In a conference call with foreign reporters, Erekat said that “people like Netanyahu and extremists in Israel believe that the two-state solution is off the table”. Meanwhile, “extremists on my side are (saying),we told you so from the beginning: the two state solution is off the table´,” he added.
Erekat condemned the agreement as a “desperate attempt” by Trump to notch a foreign policy success. He further dismissed senior White House advisor and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, an architect of the UAE-Israel pact, as displaying “a combination of arrogance and ignorance”.
Netanyahu said on Sunday that the agreement upended the notion that “no Arab state would agree to open peace with Israel, before the conflict with the Palestinians would be resolved”.
11 Yemeni soldiers killed in clashes
Eleven Yemeni government troops, including a senior officer, were killed in a rebel missile attack and clashes to the northeast and east of Sanaa, military and medical sources said on Monday, Aug 17.
US expands sanctions on Huawei
The US administration on Monday, Aug 17 expanded its sanctions on china’s Huawei, a move aimed at further limiting the tech giant’s access to computer chips and other technology.
A commerce Department statement added 38 Huawei affiliates around the world to the “entity list”, claiming that the company was using international sub- sidiaries to circumvent the sanctions which prevent export of US- based technology.
commerce Secretary Wilbur ross said Huawei and its affiliates “have worked through third parties to harness US technology in a manner that undermines US national security and foreign policy interests.”
Explosive device kills Russian general
A Russian major general was killed and two servicemen wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near a Russian convoy in eastern Syria on Tuesday, Aug 18 news agencies quoted the defence ministry as saying.
The ministry said the device went off while the convoy was returning from a humanitarian operation near the city of Deir Ezzor. The statement, released to the Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies, said the three servicemen were wounded in the blast and that a “senior military advisor with the rank of major general” died while being evacuated and provided with medical assistance.
No Israeli deal without Palentine peace
Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday, Aug 19 it will not follow the united Arab emirates in establishing diplomatic ties with Israel until the Jewish state has signed an internationally Recognised peace accord with the Palestinians. The UAE last week became the first Gulf state to Normalise relations with Israel, in a historic US-brokered accord that raised the prospect of similar deals with other arab states including Saudi arabia.
But after days of conspicuous silence and in the face of US pressure to announce a similar deal, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal-bin-Farhan ruled out the possibility until the Palestinian issue is resolved.
“Peace must be achieved with the Palestinians” on the basis of international agreements as a precondition for any normalisation of relations, Prince Faisal told reporters during a visit to Berlin. “once that is achieved all things are possible,” he added, in a comment that was consistent with Saudi Arabia´s previous stance on the issue.
Saudi Arabia has long maintained this public stance even as it has cultivated clandestine relations with Israel in recent years, in a shift spearheaded by de facto leader crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Faisal´s remarks are the kingdom´s first official reaction since the UAE´s landmark deal with Israel, which is only the third such accord the Jewish state has struck with an Arab country after Egypt and Jordan. at a news conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, Prince Faisal reiterated criticism of Israel´s “unilateral policies” of annexation and building settlements in the occupied West Bank as “illegitimate” and “detrimental” to a two-state solution.
Tunisia reimposes curfew
Tunisian authorities on Friday, Aug 21 reinstated a curfew in El Hamma after a spike in novel Coronavirus cases there, the mayor said, as rail links servicing the town were Suspended.
El Hamma, home to some 100,000 people, has recorded 441 cases of infection and five deaths from the COVID-19 illness, mayor Nacef Ennajeh told AFP. He said a curfew had been imposed from 5 pm to 5 am for one week in the town, located some 325 kilometres (200 miles) south of the capital Tunis. The north African country has registered a total of 2,543 cases and 63 fatalities since the start of the outbreak.
12 civilians killed in Congo militia attack
At least 12 civilians have been killed by suspected members of a notorious militia in the east of the Democratic republic of Congo, local officials said on Saturday, Aug 22.armed members of the allied Democratic forces rebel group attacked the villagers on Thursday as they worked in the fields in the Beni region, local administrator Donat Kibwana told AFP.
He said 12 bodies were found buried after a search in the village of Matiba on the Mbau-Kamango road, where ADF fighters have been waging a string of attacks.
New Zealand’s mosque killer
The sentencing of an Australian white supremacist who killed 51 Muslim Worshippers in new Zealand and live-streamed the massacre begins amid tight security in a Christchurch court on Monday, Aug 24.
lawyers expect Brenton Tarrant to be the first person to be jailed for life without parole in new Zealand. The hearing is set down for four days with High court judge Cameron Mander to hear statements from 66 survivors before Tarrant makes his own submission before sentencing.
In what Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called “one of new Zealand´s darkest days”, Tarrant armed himself with a semi-automatic rifle and stormed into two mosques on March 15 last year where he opened fire on worshippers at Friday prayer. He was arrested soon after and initially pleaded not guilty to 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and committing a terrorist act.
14 dead, scores wounded in Philippine twin bombings
At least 14 people were killed and 75 wounded including members of the security forces and civilians in twin bombings Monday, Aug 24 involving a suicide attacker on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of militants, officials said.
The apparently coordinated attacks happened in Jolo in Muslim- majority Sulu, where government- backed security forces have long been fighting the Abu Sayyaf group. Seven soldiers, a police officer, and six civilians were killed in the two bombings, the first at around mid- day when an improvised explosive device attached to a motorcycle parked outside a supermarket blew up, lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan said.
That was followed by a second blast a short time later in the same street when a suicide attacker blew herself up as security forces cordoned off the area, Vinluan said. a soldier had been trying to apprehend the bomber when she detonated her explosives, he added.
a total of 48 civilians were also wounded along with 21 soldiers and six police. a soldier saw a person leaving the motorbike outside the grocery store “where there were a lot of people” including members of the military. It immediately detonated, lieutenant colonel ronaldo Mateo said.
“our soldiers are conducting security operations. That was the time that the improvised explosive device detonated,” he said. Abu Sayyaf was “most probably” behind the double bombing, Mateo said.
listed by the united States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of militants blamed for the Philippines´ worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries. They also have ties to Daesh militants seeking to set up a caliphate in Southeast Asia. Monday´s attacks come after the arrest earlier this month of an abu Sayyaf leader on the southern island of Mindanao.
‘Butcher of Bosnia’
Lawyers for Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic told a UN court on Tuesday, Aug 25 that he was at risk of a “miscarriage of justice” because he was mentally unfit to take part in an appeal hearing against his genocide conviction. Dubbed the “Butcher of Bosnia”, the 78-year-old Mladic has challenged his 2017 conviction and life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the civil war in the former Yugoslavia.
